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Questioning Baptism Text Content Preview Questioning Baptism Week: 2 Central Theme: What does a second birth feel like? Key Quote: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (John 3:16) Scripture: John 3:1-17 Theme Statement Nicodemus was a Pharisee, an authority in faith matters. He came from a distinguished family. He was probably a member of the Sanhedrin, a kind of seventy-member Supreme Court. They had religious jurisdiction over every Jew in the world. It was their responsibility to deal with anyone suspected of being a false prophet. It was their job to provide answers. Nicodemus, despite his official position, immediately defers to Jesus by calling him "Rabbi". He is like a new disciple with many questions. His first question is a challenge to Jesus' statement that "no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." In answering, Jesus uses the Greek word anothen which has three meanings:
Jesus' response to Nicodemus embraces all of these meanings and reveals that this change in our lives happens through the power of God's Spirit. This is God's gift of baptism. We can never accomplish any real change on our own; this change is a gift of God's love and grace. Many people question how they should feel or act when they become a Christian. If I don't feel different, how do I know that I'm a Christian? How does God know whether I'm Christian or not? In Jesus' words this week, we once again receive the clear promise that God has loved us and "birthed" us, whether we like it or not. God has done the work, and we are living into this new promise, this baptism, this new life. May we breathe with freshness the promises of God through Jesus.
Music "Baptized and Set Free", ELW 453, Augsburg Fortress "For All You've Done", Reuben Morgan, "My Redeemer Lives", Reuben Morgan, "Thank You for Saving Me", Martin Smith, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever", Martin Smith, "Fill Me Now", Michael Hansen/Christina Peppin, "God So Loved", Reuben Morgan, "Hold Me Close", Twila Paris, Integrity/Mountain Spring Music "Holy Love", Andy Park, "How Can I Keep From Singing", Ed Cash/ Matt Redman/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music/Thankyou Music "How Great Is Our God", Ed Cash/Jesse Reeves/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music "Nothing Without You", Mitch Dane/Bebo Norman, New Spring Publishing, Inc./Appstreet Music/Rotten Banana Music "Shine on Us", Deborah Smith/Michael W. Smith, Milene Music/Deer Valley Music "You Are My King (Amazing Love)", Billy Foote, Linda Holcombe's Annotated Set List for "Questioning Baptism" (Christ Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, CO) Gathering Music "Come, Let Us Worship", Jesse Reeves/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music This is a wonderful, reflective song of invitation and worship that is congregation-friendly. It sets the tone for contemplation as is fitting for a series about "questioning," yet it is also filled with praise. Opening Music Set "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever", Martin Smith, "Shine on Us", Deborah Smith/Michael W. Smith, Milene Music/Deer Valley Music "You Are My King (Amazing Love)", Billy Foote, The songs in this set flow very well from simple praise to recognition of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The central theme of this set is love, which speaks powerfully during the weeks of Questioning. Congregations will be able to sing these songs well because of their easily-learned melodies and repeated refrains. Song of Praise and/or Response: (following Sermon) "How Great Is Our God", Ed Cash/Jesse Reeves/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music This song is a powerful and versatile praise anthem. It is simple in structure and melody, but beautiful and profound in message. It will undoubtedly become one of your church's favorite songs! Offering Music "Nothing Without You", Mitch Dane/Bebo Norman, New Spring Publishing, Inc./Appstreet Music/Rotten Banana Music "Nothing without You" could be sung by full congregation or praise ensemble alone. It is an intimate statement of offering to God, and an acknowledgment of our need for God's constant love and care. Communion Music Set "Fill Me Now", Michael Hansen/Christina Peppin, "Hold Me Close", Twila Paris, Integrity/Mountain Spring Music The songs in this communion set bring a continuation of the mood and feel of the offering song. They are both simple and congregation accessible, but speak of the deep need we have for the love and care of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are best accomplished using simple instrumentations that are acoustic-based. Closing Song "How Can I Keep From Singing", Ed Cash/ Matt Redman/Chris Tomlin, Worship Together/Sixsteps Music/Alletrop Music/Thankyou Music This final selection for the day is a flowing and uplifting song of praise and love. It provides a peaceful celebration to close the worship service. Worship Texts Theme Prayer Lord of life, in baptismal waters you wash us clean from the stains of our sin and transform our hearts with your love. Birth us again and again into this new identity so that, as we believe and act according to your word, you will shine through us and be glorified. We bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayers of Intercession With confidence that God hears our questions and prayers and answers them in truth and love, let us plead for the church, the world, our community, and our lives.
Hear our prayers, gracious God, and sustain us with the truth that your word always accomplishes your purpose. Amen. Scrapbook Worship Space; Experiential Idea Some congregations keep their baptismal font tucked away because of space issues. This would be an ideal time to bring the font out into the open. If you have a movable font, bring it to the front of the worship space or near the entrance. Make sure it is filled with fresh water before worship. Invite folks to use the water to make the sign of the cross on themselves after communion or on the way in and out of the worship space. Visual Image; Service Element; Experiential Idea A second birth is not easy. Transformation comes from God and those who are transformed often experience monumental life changes. What would it be like to change in the blink of an eye? This photograph could prompt wondering about what it would be like to change by simply walking through a doorway. Use this image in worship planning or as part of the sermon. If you are able to plan ahead a few weeks, you could find a door or doorframe that people can walk through, symbolizing a second birth. Find the image at www.dkimages.com. Children; Experiential Idea; Gathering Space; Sensory Idea What does it feel like to be a Christian? Set up a table in the gathering space or use these elements during children's time. People might identify with one or more of the following "feelings" provided in materials such as feathers, worn leather, suede, velvet, sandpaper, cold and warm water, glue, ice, jelly, or gelatin. Invite them to talk with each other about what they identified with most or leave a blank book with pens for them to write their responses. Experiential Idea; Sensory Idea Fill the baptismal font or a large glass bowl with sea glass. Sea glass is available at many craft stores and is glass that has been found on beaches after spending months or years being tossed and polished by seawater. Invite folks to take a few pieces as they leave worship as a reminder of God's love and grace, and that God transforms us, is always working on us. and isn't done with us yet! Poem For many people transformation or a second birth might mean life lived down a notch or two on the busy-ness meter. Radical change involving time and energy could mean a chance to understand God's love and grace in a new way. In a poem about Lent, Ted Loder marks the change from scurrying to being caught in God's love. "Catch me in my aimless scurrying, Lord, and hold me in this Lenten season: hold my feet to the fire of your grace" he writes. Find this and a number of other worship-related poems in Guerillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle by Ted Loder (Philadelphia, PA: Innisfree Press, 1984). Book; Pop Culture; Real-life Story Bob Buford's original book Halftime is followed up by Stuck in Halftime (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001). Buford believes that there is a possibility of a second birth—or at least a second half of life—that is meant for meaningful work. While people in their 20's, 30's, and 40's may be overwhelmed with marriage, children, and career, the next half of their life should focus on giving back. That's where the joy is, Buford says. Buford revisits some themes from Halftime to make the follow-up accessible. Book Henri Nouwen writes about the joy of a new season in his life, a new job, and the joy in being open to what God is up to within him and his life. Taken as excerpts from his year long sabbatical journal, these writings show what one person's life was like making the transition from old to new and all the letting go that takes place in the process. Our Second Birth: Christian Reflections on Death and New Life by Henri Nouwen (New York: Crossroad Publishing / Herder and Herder, 2006). Sound Effects; Web Site Second birth might be compared to a second wind or a breath of fresh air. God's Spirit breathes into us again the fresh promises of God. Help your congregation hear that God is working to keep those promises and continues to bring new life. Lofi Production is just one site that offers a variety of sound effects including wind. Find free samples here. Quote; Movie After learning that some of the people in his life are not real but imagined, John Nash, the Nobel prize-winning mathematics professor, experiences a second birth as he learns how to live with schizophrenia. In the movie A Beautiful Mind (Universal, 2001) his character remarks, "My quest has taken me through the the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back." Web Site; Real-life Story In September 2006 Anousheh Ansari became the first person to blog in space and the first woman to purchase a ticket on a space shuttle. She tells about her adventures of training and flight. She compares coming back to earth and being pulled out of the capsule with the cosmonauts as her second birth. Read more in her blog. Copyright ©2008 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission under license. |
